2024 Energy Efficiency Policy Forum

Forum Overview

As we approach a pivotal moment for energy policy, the 2024 election will determine whether the next administration and the 119th Congress will continue to advance energy efficiency or reverse some of the substantial progress made in recent years. Historic investments through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have set the stage for significant improvements in clean transportation, affordable housing, and industrial innovation. However, with a new administration and Congress on the horizon, the future of these policies hangs in the balance.

The 2024 Energy Efficiency Policy Forum will convene experts and leaders from across government, industry, and advocacy to assess the current landscape of federal energy efficiency policies, explore ways to strengthen and expand these efforts, and discuss how to address potential challenges ahead. In the face of uncertainty, we will chart a path forward—whether that means building on existing achievements, defending against policy rollbacks, or seizing new opportunities to lower consumer energy costs, boost U.S. competitiveness, and combat the climate crisis.

The forum will feature keynote addresses by government leaders as well as sessions focusing on:

Equitable and Efficient Housing. Panelists will discuss their successes and challenges in implementing new building efficiency programs, how programs can be improved, and energy efficiency’s role in alleviating rising household costs.
Industrial Competitiveness and Adequate Power. Panelists will examine the needs of industrial firms as they seek to transform their operations to reduce energy costs and decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and carbon-intensive processes. We will examine how the federal government can facilitate or hinder this transition.
Transportation Reauthorization. Every five years, Congress must reauthorize hundreds of billions of dollars in federal surface transportation programs for highways, intercity rail, and public transit. We will explore opportunities to improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and our nation’s critical freight systems, including a state perspective.

Program

Registration

Sponsorship Prospectus

Lodging Options in DC

Program

Click here to view the full program.

Click here to view the program at a glance.

Opening Plenary: What Might we Expect on Energy Efficiency from the New Administration and Congress

ACEEE’s Executive Director Steve Nadel will lead a discussion focused on the big picture of what the next two years hold for energy efficiency policy at the federal level. Our panelists will draw on their years of experience working with past presidential administrations and congresses, and their ongoing work representing important stakeholders, to share insights into the transition and what comes next.

Keynote

Jeff Marootian leads the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy as principal deputy assistant secretary, where he is in charge of a $3.2 billion portfolio of research and deployment programs. He previously served as senior advisor to Energy Secretary Granholm, special assistant in the Biden-Harris White House, director of the D.C. District Department of Transportation, and an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Session 1 | Equitable and Efficient Housing

Panelists will discuss their successes and challenges in implementing new building efficiency programs, how programs can be improved, and energy efficiency’s role in alleviating rising household costs.

Christine Guhl-Sadovy is the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) where she leads the New Jersey state agency with authority to oversee the state's regulated utilities, including electricity, water, natural gas, and telecommunications. Christine was appointed to her role by Governor Phil Murphy in 2023, prior to her nomination she served as cabinet secretary in the Governor's senior staff. She will share her perspective on how states are aligning utility and federal resources to accelerate housing upgrades.

Charlie Harak is senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, specializing in energy and utilities issues. He will discuss the importance of defending critical federal efficiency programs with our Equitable and Efficient Housing panel, drawing on his significant work on federal appliance efficiency standards and advocacy for energy efficiency investments in affordable multifamily housing. Click here for more information on Charlie's presentation.

John Moon is president of LISC Green LLC, the implementing entity for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s funding from the federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). John will provide his prospective on the opportunities and challenges for prioritizing affordable housing with the implementation of federal funding on the Equitable and Efficient Housing panel.

Rose Stephens-Booker is the Managing Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), where she oversees the organization’s programs and strategic collaborations with market leaders, policymakers, and consumer-focused campaigns to accelerate the transition to clean energy in homes and buildings. Previously, Rose served as BDC’s Director of State Mobilization, launching and scaling a team dedicated to driving state-level decarbonization efforts. Rose will be moderating the housing session.

Session 2 | Industrial Competitiveness and Adequate Power Panel

Panelists will examine the needs of industrial firms as they seek to transform their operations to reduce energy costs and decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and carbon-intensive processes. We will examine how the federal government can facilitate or hinder this transition.

Dean Frank will review technology-neutral policies that support innovation in both the production and use of building materials. He will discuss collaboration across the value chain to increase resilience while reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment.

Sharon Nolen is the Global Natural Resources Manager and an Eastman Fellow for Eastman Chemical Company, as well as the Chair of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee. Sharon will share insights into Eastman’s experience as a recipient of OCED’s Industrial Demonstration Program Awards and a leader in decarbonization in the chemical sector.

Jeff Smith is the Director of Energy Efficiency for Southern Company, where he leads regulatory strategy, DSM program design, EM&V, and pilot and innovation efforts for multiple electric operating companies across the Southern Company footprint, serving 9 million customers across six states. Jeff will speak to load growth and its challenges and address the collaboration needed between companies, utilities, state development agencies, local jurisdictions, and the federal government.

Neal Elliott is Director Emeritus of ACEEE’s research programs and an internationally recognized expert and author on energy efficiency programs and policies, industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization, and clean distributed energy and thermal storage. Neal will discuss how federal industrial policy is advancing and identify opportunities for the next Congress and administration to build on the last four years of investment.

Session 3 | Transportation Reauthorization

Shifting Gears: Navigating Federal Transportation Funding and Priorities in a Changing Landscape

Federal and state leaders are navigating an uncertain transportation policy landscape. This panel will examine the outlook for transportation policies and programs initiated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act under a new administration. Panelists will share insights on what to expect in the coming year including impacts to vehicle efficiency standards, the implications for the next Transportation Bill (up for reauthorization in 2026), and opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and strategic alignment.

Representative Sean Casten (IL-6) is vice ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and a leader in clean energy policy solutions in Congress and has dedicated his life to fighting climate change. He began his career as a scientist, clean energy entrepreneur, and CEO, and now represents the western suburbs of Chicago. Mr. Casten will discuss his work on legislation to improve electric vehicle efficiency.

Joung Lee is director of policy and government relations for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. He will share the perspective of state transportation agencies on transportation reauthorization and provide insights about what states are hoping the 119th Congress will prioritize in the next round of this important legislation. Click here to view Joung's presentation.

Rachel Aland, ACEEE's Transportation Director, oversees research and policy development aimed at making freight and passenger transportation systems more efficient and sustainable. Following historic levels of transportation investment in recent years, she will reflect on the current state of the sector, share insights into what could lie ahead, and highlight key opportunities for progress. Click here to view Rachel's presentation.